Red Moscow

Early the next morning, as soon as Yakov left with his hovercraft unit, Kurishenko came to the headquarters angrily and asked Sokov to question him.

"Commander, Comrade Chief of Staff," Kurishenko asked with a straight face: "I would like to ask, why are the two airborne divisions issued assault rifles and new rockets, but our division has nothing? "

"Who said no?" Smirnov heard Kurishenko say this, and immediately retorted: "Isn't a large part of the weapons replaced by the two divisions handed over to your division?"

"Our division already has those equipments." Kurishenko said a little bit dumbfoundingly: "Give us another batch, and it won't be of much help to improve the combat power of the troops."

"You can't say that." Smirnov continued: "In the early battles of your division, not only did you lose a lot of soldiers, but also your weapons and equipment. So much so that after the new recruits, many recruits have no weapons. The weapons distributed to you last night are just enough to arm the recruits."

"Even if these weapons are supplemented, we still face the problem of insufficient firepower." Kurishenko raised his voice and said, "We are about to launch an attack on the Uman Group of the German army. When attacking, there is bound to be a huge price to pay."

"Comrade Kurishenko," Seeing that Smirnov was about to reprimand Kurishenko, Sokov quickly reached out to stop him, and then said, "Do you know why I don't issue new weapons to your division? "

"Why?"

"Because the proportion of recruits in your division is very high." Sokov said bluntly: "Even if you are assigned assault rifles and new rockets, the recruits can master the use of these new weapons in a short period of time. Are you proficient in using it? It is precisely with this in mind that I decided to give priority to the weapons that Colonel Yakov brought over to the two guard airborne divisions."

"Comrade commander, have you forgotten that you once served as the commander of the 41st Guards Division." Kurishenko said: "It can be said that this unit is your old subordinate."

"Yes, General Kurishenko." Sokov did not deny this: "Yes, I am the second division commander of the 41st Guards Division, but this is different from the fact that I did not issue new weapons to you. What does it matter?"

"Why doesn't it matter?" Kurishenko couldn't help but feel a little angry when he saw Sokov's disapproval. He said emotionally: "Although there are not many veterans left when you were the division commander. But for How to use assault rifles and new rockets, they are no worse than the commanders and fighters of friendly forces, and even a lot stronger."

Hearing this, Sokov was taken aback for a moment, then raised his hand and slapped himself on the forehead, and said angrily, "Damn, how did I forget about this?" Maybe it was too late to leave this army. So long that Sokov even forgot that the commanders and fighters of the division can skillfully use assault rifles and skillfully launch new rockets towards the enemy's positions.

Seeing Sokov's reaction, Kurishenko couldn't help feeling secretly happy, and he continued: "Comrade Commander, even if you don't replace us with assault rifles, you must give us some of the new rockets. As long as we have new rockets, we can suppress the German army when we attack, thereby reducing unnecessary casualties."

Although Sokov felt a little regretful in his heart, and felt that he had not considered the matter comprehensively enough, but now that the assault rifles and the new rockets have been distributed to the Airborne Division, it is definitely unrealistic to take them back, and it may even arouse the emotions of the Airborne Division commanders and fighters. unstable. Therefore, even if you want to change the equipment of the 41st Guards Division, you need to wait until Yakov brings the second batch of weapons and equipment.

After thinking about this, Sokov said to Kurishenko: "General Kurishenko, now all the weapons and equipment we have obtained have been distributed, and even if we want to give them to you at this time, we can't give you anything. "

Hearing this, Kurishenko couldn't help feeling cold. He said with a bitter face: "I really didn't expect that they are all troops of the 18th Guards Army, but our division's equipment is inferior to that of our friendly troops..."

"Don't worry, there will be assault rifles, there will be new rockets, there will be everything." After casually uttering this revised quote, Sokov continued: "Colonel Yakov has returned Moscow, within five days at the most, he will be able to transport the second batch of weapons and ammunition, and I will definitely give you priority to change equipment by then."

"From here to Moscow, there are more than a thousand roads. And it's catching up with the spring thaw, and the entire Ukrainian Great Plain has turned into a swamp." Kurishenko said with a wry smile: "Even if Colonel Yakov They transported them at the fastest speed, and it took almost half a month for the second batch of weapons and ammunition to be encountered. However, there are only five days left for our army to launch the Battle of Uman. It seems that our division is Can't wait to change clothes before the battle."

"You can rest assured about this," Sokov thought that the matter of the hovercraft was no secret in the Soviet army. For a division commander like Kurishenko, there was no need to hide it, so he said truthfully: " The hovercraft detachment commanded by Colonel Yakov is driving a special means of transportation. It can not only drive on roads, but also travel very fast in swamps, lakes or muddy mud. I believe they will definitely be in battle Before we start, bring us the second batch of weapons and equipment."

Now that Sokov had made a promise to himself, Kurishenko felt that there was no need for him to stay any longer, so he stood up and prepared to leave: "Comrade Commander, I am going back to the army. Are you allowed to leave?"

Sokov did not immediately agree with him to leave, but instead asked, "When will your division leave?"

"According to the order of the army, we will set off at ten o'clock tomorrow morning." After reporting the departure time of the troops, Kurishenko continued: "After our division enters Safran, we will seize the time to build a defensive position and prepare for the offensive. All the preparations ahead.”

Sokov said "um", and then said to Kurishenko: "General Kurishenko, if you encounter any difficulties in building the defense line, remember to contact me in time, and I will find a way to help you solve it .”

"Understood, Comrade Commander." Kurishenko raised his right hand to his forehead: "Now, please allow me to leave!"

"Allowed!" Sokov nodded and said, "Go back to the division early, and be careful on the way."

…………

According to the information fed back by the scouts, Sokov knew that the Safran area is a plain area, and there are no permanent fortifications. It can be said that there is no danger to defend. The German army has long abandoned this area. When the division is stationed here, it will not encounter any major troubles.

Unexpectedly, when Kurishenko's troops arrived in Safran after a two-day march, they were unexpectedly blocked by the German army. After more than an hour of fighting, Kurishenko discovered that although Safran did not have permanent fortifications, the Germans had built field fortifications here, which could completely stop their troops with only light weapons.

Sidolin, the chief of staff who stayed in the observation post, saw that the troops' attack was frustrated, so he said to Kurishenko: "Comrade commander, without the cover of heavy weapons, we can't break through the German defense line. If we attack by force, it will be considered barely." Breaking through the line of defense, I am afraid that the troops will also suffer heavy casualties."

Kurishenko raised his binoculars, looked at the German positions still emitting green smoke in the distance, and the corpses of soldiers strewn about in front of the positions, and nodded in agreement with Sidolin's proposal: "Okay, Comrade Chief of Staff, then you will go to the The commander reported that when our division was stationed in Safran, it was completely blocked by the German army, and the troops were unable to seize the enemy's position during the march, and asked our superiors to provide us with fire support."

After receiving the telegram from Sidolin, Sokov couldn't help but fell into deep thought.

Seeing Sokov's expression, Smirnov asked tentatively: "Comrade Commander, what kind of help do you think we should provide to the 41st Guards Division?"

"Comrade Chief of Staff, the road to Safran has not been repaired," Sokov said with a sad face, "this means that our tank brigade cannot go there to support. And it is too far away from our existing defense zone, beyond Without the effective range of the artillery, even artillery support could not provide them."

"Then what should we do?" After hearing what Sokov said, Smirnov became more anxious: "As the two airborne divisions of the second echelon, there are still 30 kilometers away from the 41st Guards Division. Speed ​​up the march, I'm afraid it will take dark to arrive. Our troops are not familiar with the terrain, and they can't go into battle after dark. We can only wait for the next day to fight again. I'm worried that after such a long time, the enemy may There is enough time to prepare, so that our army will make greater sacrifices in the new round of offensive."

"You're right, Comrade Chief of Staff." Sokov looked up at Smirnov: "So we can't delay until tomorrow, we must find a way to let the 41st Guards Division enter the Safran area today. "

"However, you just said that we can't provide any help to the 41st Guards Division at all." When Smirnov said this, he suddenly remembered the V1 missile of the German army, and said with emotion: "If we also have Germans You don’t have to worry about this kind of thing.”

Sokov said with a smile: "Comrade Chief of Staff, even if we really have the missiles of the Germans, I would not dare to use them. You must know that the accuracy of those things is not high. If the enemy doesn't hit them at that time, instead Blow us up."

After saying this, he paused for a moment, pondered in his mind for a moment, and then asked Smirnov: "Comrade Chief of Staff, can I contact General Ryazanov?"

"General Ryazanov?" Smirnov asked cautiously: "Comrade Commander, are you talking about General Ryazanov, the commander of the 1st Air Force Army?"

"Of course." Sokov nodded and asked, "Are there any other Ryazanov generals besides him?"

"Are you going to let him dispatch the air force to support the 41st Guards Division?" After he finished speaking, he carefully observed Sokov's expression, and when he saw the other party nodding in affirmation, his emotions suddenly became agitated: "I I feel that it is most appropriate to ask the Air Force to come forward to support the 41st Guards Division, so I will call General Ryazanov immediately."

The call was connected quickly, and Smirnov said into the microphone: "Hello, General Ryazanov, I am Smirnov. I need your help now..."

But before he finished speaking, Sokov took the microphone from his hand and whispered in his ear, "I'm Sokov! Hello, General Ryazanov!"

"Hello, Comrade General!" Hearing that it was Sokov, Ryazanov immediately asked respectfully, "Do you have any instructions?"

"When the 41st Guards Division was ordered to enter the Safran area, it was blocked by the German army." Sokov said succinctly: "I hope to get your help."

"Understood, Comrade General!" Ryazanov replied readily after hearing this: "I will immediately send an attack aircraft regiment to the Safran area to support our ground troops."

"Wait a minute, General Ryazanov." Just as Ryazanov was about to hang up the phone, he heard Sokov asking, "I want to ask, the kind of sky fortress I mentioned last time, you guys Was the reconstruction successful?"

"Report, Comrade General, the modification has been successful." Ryazanov replied: "We installed dual 14.5mm anti-aircraft machine guns on the transport plane, and fired at ground targets from the hatch door. After testing, the effect is very good .”

"I don't know how many transport planes you have rebuilt, how much ammunition can each plane carry?"

"We have only rebuilt one aircraft so far." After saying this, Ryazanov worried that Sokov would be disappointed, and quickly added: "But the ammunition capacity is 6,000 rounds, which can provide enough for the ground troops." Fire support."

Sokov thought to himself that although there was only one sky fortress, it was more than enough for ground support. But just to be on the safe side, he still suggested to Riazanov: "General Ryazanov, then let this aerial fortress go out with the assault aircraft group you just mentioned."

After putting down the phone, Sokov said to Smirnov: "Comrade Chief of Staff, General Ryazanov will soon send an attack aircraft regiment to support the 41st Guards Division. You should call them back immediately and discuss the matter." Inform Kurishenko and Sidorin and prepare them for ground guidance."

After Smirnov arranged for the operator to send the report, he returned to Sokov and asked curiously, "Comrade Commander, what do you think of the Air Fortress's performance in this battle?"

"I don't know." Sokov answered very simply. He had never seen such a modified aircraft put into actual combat, and naturally he didn't know how effective it would be on the battlefield. Know if it has value."

The reason why Sokov said this is that he wanted to decide whether to convert more transport aircraft into such sky fortresses based on the performance of the sky fortress in this support operation, or to abandon the plan completely.

Smirnov also had the same mentality. He nodded slightly and said, "I hope that Sky Fortress' performance in this ground support battle will not disappoint us."

The 41st Guards Division, which was blocked near Safran, received a telegram from the headquarters, and Sidolin began to deploy manpower to prepare for the upcoming air force to indicate the direction of the attack target.

After doing all this, Sidolin said to Kurishenko: "Comrade commander, after our air force has carried out air strikes on the enemy's positions, we can launch a ground attack again."